Third Sunday of Advent (C) – Gaudete
PROCESSION IN HONOUR OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
ThisSunday at 4.00pm (after Vespers), there will be the annual Procession in honour of the Immaculate Conception, followed by Solemn Benediction.
BACH: CHRISTMAS ORATORIO
The Schola Cantorum of the London Oratory School, directed by Charles Cole, will give a performance of J. S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio on Monday 16th December at 7.00pm in the Oratory Church. For tickets and more information, see https://www.londonoratoryschola.com/.
ORATORY CAROL SERVICE
The annual Carol Service with the Choir of the London Oratory and the Oratory Junior Choir will be on Friday 20th December at 7.30pm. Doors open at 7.00pm. The Carol Service is open to all and is free to attend, but there will be a collection taken. A donation of £15 per person is requested to assist us in meeting the significant costs of this event. Donations can be made in cash or by card on the night. Please donate generously so that we can continue to offer this Carol Service in the years to come.
We invite those who are able to provide greater financial support to the event to register as Patrons via https://www.tickettailor.com/events/bromptonoratory/1488938. Patrons will be able to reserve seats (£100 or £50 each) at the front of the church. Thank you for your support and we look forward to welcoming you at the Carol Service.
CHRISTMAS
Tuesday 24th December: CHRISTMAS EVE
Church opens 6.30am to 7.00pm.
Masses: 7.00am, 8.00am (1962 Missal), 12.30pm.
6.00pm Vigil Mass of Christmas with Carols.
Church closes at 7.00pm and reopens at 11.15pm.
11.30pm Christmas Carols and Midnight Mass (Sung Latin) with Choir and Orchestra.
Wednesday 25th December: Christmas Day. Holyday of Obligation
Church open from 7.30am to 5.30pm.
Mass: 8.00am, 9.00am (1962 Missal), 10.00am, 11.00am (Sung Latin), 12.30pm, 4.30pm.
4.00pm Solemn Benediction.
No 7.00pm Mass.
Thursday 26th December: Saint Stephen, Protomartyr
Church open from 9.00am to 1.00pm.
Mass: 10.00am, 11.00am (1962 Missal), 12.30pm.
For a full list of Masses & other services in the Christmas Time, click here.
BETHLEHEM BAUBLES
These traditional glass decorations are handmade using recycled glass in Bethlehem. In collaboration with Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans, the baubles are “Handblown by Muslims – Painted by Christians – Shipped by Israel”. Sales generated from this project will be used to train up a new generation of painters and glass blowers, helping them to build a future in Palestine. Christmas baubles are £20 each. Visit https://www.bethlehembaubles.com/. Fill in this code (c.9) at checkout and receive a discount and £3.50 from each bauble sold will be donated to your church.
ST THOMAS MORE LANGUAGE COLLEGE LOOKING FOR FOUNDATION GOVERNOR
St Thomas More Language College in Chelsea, a member school of the St John Southworth Catholic Academy Trust, is looking for a Foundation Governor, to start as soon as possible. For more information, please contact the school office and speak to the Headteacher's PA, Ms Chanel Spooner cspooner6.207@lgflmail.org.
DIVINE ENCOUNTERS: INDIGENOUS MEETS BAROQUE
On Wednesday 26th February at 7.00pm, the ensemble El Parnaso Hyspano (which gave two very successful concerts in the Little Oratory) will perform at St Mary Moorfields, 4–5 Eldon Street, EC2M 7LS the Indigenous baroque opera San Francisco Xavier (composed by an Indigenous musician in the Jesuit missions and sung in the Chiquitano language). This will be accompanied by the world premiere of a cantata from the same period. The concert will last for approximately one hour, without interval, and will be followed by a wine reception. Click here for more information and how to purchase tickets.
ONLINE COURSE: THE GEOMETRY OF COSMATESQUE ORNAMENT
Cosmatesque ornament is a type of inlay stonework used to decorate medieval churches in Rome and in its vicinity. Elaborate patterns on floors, columns and immovable church furnishings were made from coloured stone or glass cut into small geometric shapes. A notable example outside of Italy is the marble floor of Westminster Abbey. Cosmatesque ornament is a beautiful, if less known, ingredient of the artistic heritage of the Church, a Catholic geometric art. During this online course organised by the King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts from 5th March to 9th April 2025 students will learn about the different components of a Cosmatesque pavement and will acquire skills necessary to analyse and draw the various parts and their infilling patterns with the use of a compass and ruler. All levels of ability and experience in geometric drawing are welcome. For further information and to book, click here.
SPIRITUAL EXERCISES FOR MEN
Five-day Ignatian retreats for men only conducted in English by the Fathers of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval in Flavigny (France): Sunday 30th March to Friday 4th April in Stonyhurst, Lancashire, Sunday 13th to Friday 18th July in Creeslough, Co. Donegal, Ireland, and Sunday 22th to Sunday 27th July in Kilsheelan, Co. Tipperary, Ireland. For more information and how to book, see https://www.clairval.com/en/spiritual-retreats/retreats/.
MARIAN APOSTLES GROUP PILGRIMAGE TO FRANCE
The Marian Apostles group is organising a pilgrimage to France from Friday 9th to Saturday 24th May 2025 with Tangney Tours. The pilgrimage will be led by Fr Thomas Crean, OP with the Marian Franciscans Sisters. The theme of the pilgrimage is: “Persevering to the end: the need for private and public prayer”. Visits include Marian shrines, Paray-le-Monial, Tours, Mont Saint-Michel, and more. Further information and booking forms from Tangney Tours. You can also contact Annabelle at 07733 223 903.
HELPING THE HOMELESS AND NEEDY IN OUR AREA
With the winter months approaching, HTB (Holy Trinity Brompton) will run a sleep-in night shelter in partnership with Glassdoor to assist those who are homeless or in dire need at St Augustine's Church, 117 Queen's Gate, SW7 5LP, every Wednesday evening. They will provide a hot meal service (3pm–9pm) for their guests and need volunteers to help in the kitchen – preparing, cooking, and washing dishes, as well as serving food.
If you are willing to spare some time and help with this service (no one needs to stay the whole time – any availability is welcome, e.g. 7pm–9pm or 3pm–5pm), please email HTB (mentioning that you heard about this from the Oratory) at shelter@htb.org.
They are also running their Love Christmas Campaign this year, aiming to offer 400 Christmas gifts for each homeless guest we serve, for those living on the streets, and for the women-only shelter provided by Glassdoor. If you would like to help with this program or purchase a gift for their guests, please click on this Amazon Wishlist link.
CHILDREN’S AREA
St Gregory’s Library will remain open on Sunday mornings for parents whose children become restless during Mass. During redecoration of the Sacred Heart Chapel, entrance will be from the Church porch. Children must be supervised by their parents at all times. We need more volunteers for the 10am Mass. If you can spare a few hours on a Sunday occasionally to help, please contact David Campbell (phone 07768 176 848).
MASS INTENTIONS
CONTACTLESS GIVING AVAILABLE
Click here for more information.
You can still make a donation via Stripe (see here) or make a bank transfer. Our account details are:
Account Name: The Oratory
Sort Code: 60 04 04
Account Number: 18192947
Please add your surname and first name as a reference, to help our bursar.
The Oratory very much depends on your contributions, and we thank you in advance for your generosity.
GIFT AID – HELPING THE ORATORY
If you are a UK taxpayer, the Oratory can claim back from the Inland Revenue 25p of every £1 you give, at no cost or inconvenience to you. Setting up a Gift Aid arrangement helps the Oratory to increase its income (click here for the forms).
PRIEST REFERENCE FOR SCHOOL APPLICATIONS
Parents who wish one of the Oratory Fathers to give their child a school reference must register with the “Mass Attendance” scheme. Registration forms are available from the Oratory House.
UNABLE TO GET TO MASS ON SUNDAYS?
The Oratory runs a bus service staffed by volunteers to help the elderly and/or incapacitated attending the 11am Mass each Sunday. The minibus has a lift for wheelchairs and volunteers help passengers go to Holy Communion if required. The service is available to parishioners and those who live in the Fulham and Earl’s Court areas. Please email generalenquiries@bromptonoratory.co.uk or telephone 020 7808 0900 if you are interested in making use of this service, or if you would like to volunteer as a driver or helper.
PSYCHOTHERAPY AND LIFE COACHING
Wilfrid’s House is a BACP-accredited, registered charity based at the Oratory and committed to helping people cope with life’s challenges`. Through low-cost counselling and psychotherapy, they support individuals who are going through challenges such as anxiety, depression, inability to cope with daily life, relationship issues, and bereavement. Through low-cost life coaching, they support individuals who are feeling overwhelmed and unable to move forward with purpose. Whether you are struggling with change, big decisions or simply day-to-day life, coaching offers emotional and practical support, enabling clarity and structure and helping you achieve your goals. Further information at www.wilfridshouse.org.
For job vacancies in the Diocese of Westminster, see https://jobs.rcdow.org.uk/.
INFORMATION FOR MARRIAGE
If you would like to be married at the Oratory, we will need at least 6 months notice. For the initial enquiry please come to the Oratory House in person and ask to speak to the priest on duty (see Hours of Duty below). All subsequent meetings, bookings and arrangements will be done through him, so please make a note of his name! No wedding bookings will be taken over the telephone or by email.
If you do not normally worship at the Oratory, please state the name of the church where you usually attend Mass and give the reasons you wish to marry here (for instance, personal connection to the Oratory or one of our schools). It is important to approach the church first before making your plans for a reception venue. We do not have weddings on a Sunday.
There are various arrangements and legalities, both civil and ecclesiastical which need to be attended to. You will also need to undergo a course of preparatory instruction about the sacrament of marriage. Speak to the priest for more details.
Hours of Duty:
Monday-Saturday: 9.30am-12.00pm; 3.00pm-5.30pm.
INFORMATION FOR BAPTISM
According to canon law, “Parents are obliged to see that their infants are baptised within the first few weeks. As soon as possible after the birth, indeed even before it, they are to approach the parish priest to ask for the sacrament for their child, and to be themselves duly prepared for it” (Code of Canon Law, can. 867 §1).
Those wishing to have their child baptised should contact the Oratory House and ask to speak to the priest on duty. All subsequent meeting, bookings and arrangements will be done through him. It will be necessary to meet with the priest for a class on the sacrament of baptism.
Normally baptisms take place in the parish where a family is resident. If you do not live within the territorial boundaries of the Oratory parish but have a good reason for wanting to have your child baptised here, please explain that to the priest on duty. In such cases your own parish priest will need to give permission for the baptism to take place at the Oratory.
The choice of godparents (sponsors), who are to help the baptised to live a good Christian life and faithfully to fulfil the duties inherent in baptism, is an important one. “There is to be only one male sponsor or one female sponsor or one of each” (Code of Canon Law, can. 873). A godparent must be a Catholic of not less than sixteen years of age, who has been confirmed and who lives a life of faith that befits the role to be undertaken. A baptised person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community may be admitted in company with a Catholic sponsor as a Christian witness.